Oh No! Rare Virus Putting Thousands Of Kids In The Hospital

The Center for Disease Control is warning that this could just be the beginning. More than 1,000 kids in hospital, some hooked up to oxygen masks.

A rare and powerful virus has put more than 1,000 children in the hospital, some hooked up to oxygen masks.

The Center for Disease Control is warning that this could just be the beginning and that the dangerous situation is evolving quickly.

Dr. Mary Anne Jackson, the Director of Infectious Diseases at Children's Mercy Hospital says, "What's different about this is the unusual number of cases and the severity of infection."

Children under 5 are most susceptible but everyone is at risk. The virus starts like the common cold with a runny nose, coughing, sneezing and fever. However, it can quickly turn more severe with kids being unable to breathe and losing consciousness.